Did anyone else catch the Hellraiser reference in last weeks Scooby Doo?

I was watching the latest episode of Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated with my daughter last week and could not fail to spot this gratuitous reference to Clive Barker’s Hellraiser. (Something I never thought I’d see).

What was really interesting was that this was a 20 second vignette that had nothing to do with the regular mask-wearing, kid-meddling shenanigans. Once it was over we returned back to the regular plot with no further mention. Since it’s unlikely that the target demographic for Scooby Doo has ever seen a Hellraiser movie this one was purely for the parents watching…

After opening the door, the unseen caller starts to say “Oh such sights…” only to have the door slammed in his face and the sheriff mutter “Weirdo!”

There are tons of reference jokes in the show. It’s more in season two but there is definitely a lot from the start. Some have been quite subtle, but very much there.

The hellraser joke isn’t exactly subtle, it is off the charts really. But the show has been full of them. Prof Pericles introduction to the show is one big reference to Hannibal Lecter and silence of the lambs.. Not exactly targeted to kids. And of course all HP Lovecraft references, and references to previous Scooby Doo incarnations AND self referencing jokes on the show’s lack of consistency and continuity problems. Shaggy’s line “We have been teens forever” or Fred’s statements that he is getting confused by the concept of time passing are only a few examples. Hell, the voice casting is a reference joke all in itself. (Udo Kier as prof Pericles, jeeeezzz)
At first when I stumbled upon your post I wanted to write something like: “My god, what took you so long? Have you been sitting through all of season one and still think it’s a show just for kids??”
But then it got me thinking. If someone is into the assumption that cartoons are for kids, period, that might make you blind for one or two things. For me it’s been pretty obvious from the start that show has an appeal too an audience much wider than nine-year-old kids.
Warner Brothers knows this quite well. Scooby Doo is a very strong brand within the geek culture. So I’m pretty sure the target demographic knows about hellraser. Because the target demographic is probably only 30% kids. The rest is 30-something scooby doo geeks. (and I’m one of them)

A lot of parents watch this show with their kids. And quite a few of them use their kids as an excuse to watch to show without feeling ashamed.

I watch this show for my own amusement because I think it’s good. -For real. But I think few people would admit that. Especially if you think cartoons are just for kids. That’s the beauty of it. Parents can watch to show without feeling ashamed because some parts of the show could actually be quite creepy for kids. Let’s say I wouldn’t let a six-year-old watch this show alone.

Who is this guy?

Steve Hobley works for a software company, but in his spare time likes to deconstruct all the lovely consumer goods with a goal to make unique and interesting things.

A few years ago he posted a short clip of the laser harp he developed, solely to show friends back in the UK.

Automagically that one clip got picked up by Gizmodo, Engadget and a bunch of other tech journals. The end result (apart from a ton of views on Youtube) was to get hired as a consultant for Little Boots – creating a laser harp for her 2010 US tour.